News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-08-18
The Vermont State Grange to the
Governor.

To HIS EreeIIeaey, the Hon. E. j. Ornlsbee, Cor
er7lOF OF Vermont =
The undersigned, Master of the Vermont State
Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, respectfully sub
mitS that this organization was formed and Is
conducted for the furtheranee OF the best inter,
estS of the farming class and of all the people OF
the state, and therefore has a deep and abiding
interest in all that pertains to the welfare of the
farmer and people at large. 1t is well Known
that farm property is declining in vaIueS dn6tha
the business Of farming is one that yields small
profits to those therein engaged, and that III
consequence thereof large numbers of the most
limits, and seek homes and occupation elsewhere
thereby reducing the population OF the rural
districts and diminishing in large degree the
productive capacity of the commonwealth.
The members of the grange believe that this
state of things has been largely caused by I'M
reasonable and discriminating rates OF freight
over the railways of the state, and that much
higher rates have been charged to the people of
Vermont than to those of other states and foreign
countries. They believe that these high and I'M
reasonable rates have largely hindered the
development of manufactures in the state. The
main and almost the only argument advanced by
Henry Clay and Horace Greeley why farmers
should favor a high protective tariff was that
thereby manufactures would be established and
a home market for farm products created: We
claim that high and oppressive rates OF freight
have prevented manufacturers from coming into
this state and that, when we seek the markets
OF New Hampshire, Massachusetts and other
manufacturing states, we ind farm products
from the far western states set down in these
markets at lower rates than we are compelled to
pay; hence we are heavily taxed by high
tariff, without the compromising Dement'S that
Canadian farm products are prevented by the
tariff from competing with us on equal terms,
but the schedule of rates of the Boston Il Lowell
and the Central Vermont railroads show that by
the edict of corporate power, the laws OF the
United States are virtually annulled by reducing
the freight rates to and from Canada, so that
Canadian farmers can pay the United States
duties, and still ship their products to our sea-
board markets at a lower rate than can Vermont
farmers.
We have for years sought relief through the
legislature of the state, as has been SO success
", OIL sra i'm he nj A
law creating state railway commission was
passed at the last session of the legislature, but
that measure has proved utterly inadequate to
remedy the evils of which we complain.
Under this state of things the passage of the
interstate commerce law by Congress was hailed
with great satisfaction as the beginning of such
governmental control as should place Vermont
more nearly upon an equality with other states,
but we find by the publication OF pleadngS IN the
case of the Boston and Albany railroad VS.. BOS-
ton and Lowell, Central Vermont and other rail-
roads set down for hearing at Rutland on the
first of September next, that the provisions of
the interstate commerce law fOrbidding larger
rate for a short than for a long haul, are disre-
charged higher rates of freight than those of Can
ada, Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin, in viola
ton and defiance of the laws of the land.
The interstate commission has publicly invited
the suffering people of this state to be present at
the hearing above named and present their
grievances. As an organization the grange has
no friends Its individual members are men of
small means. There is no time to solicit or col
Iect funds from other sources, and they there
fore, in pursuance of the aims and purposes of
their organization, respectfully ask your excel
Iency to exercise the discretion granted you in
section I48 of the Revised Laws, and assign as
counsel. on behalf OF the state, to assist the
grange in this case, the Hon Kittredge Haskins
of BrattleboTO, or such other person or persons
as you shall deem best
1t is the belief of many of the best citizens of
Vermont that no occasion of equal Importance
to the welfare of the people of the state has
arisen, nor one where 1.-THE protection of the
rights Of the state' more imperatiyely demand
ed executive employment of counsel
Very respectfully yours,
A AIFSSER,
Master Vermont State Grange.
ROCHESTER,, Vt, August 4, 1887.